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The Grapevine Magazine August 2002 Issue No 172
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The Trustees of the Jubilee Hall are delighted to announce the visit of Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal to Lewknor in September. Princess Anne will travel through the village to visit the Jubilee Hall on Monday 23rd September. She will be accompanied by her lady-in-waiting and Mr. Hugo Brunner, the Lord Lieutenant of Oxfordshire. Earlier this year the trustees unanimously voted to call the newly opened building the Jubilee Hall in celebration of the completion of the building work during the year we celebrate the Golden Jubilee of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. Inside the Jubilee Hall Princess Anne will meet representatives of the various groups in the Parish including the PCC, Parish Council and School Governors as well as other people who are active in the community. The children and staff from Lewknor School will be joining the celebrations at the hall, where they will be waving the flags they will be making specially for the occasion. Princess Anne is visiting Lewknor following a visit to Watlington where she will be opening the sheltered housing for the elderly project which is being built in the former primary school. It is understood that Princess Anne and her party will be lunching at the Jubilee Hall. Princess Anne will be able to admire artwork made by the children from the school celebrating the Golden Jubilee and we plan to give the Princess a taste of life in Lewknor fifty years ago! Register your interest in taking part in the celebrations at the Jubilee Hall Sadly, we cannot fit all the residents of the parish into the hall to meet The Princess Royal and to take part in the celebrations marking her visit. The members of the PCC, the Parish Council, the School Governors etc., will be receiving invitations. In order to get a fair representation of other people from the Parish (Lewknor, South Weston and Postcombe) we shall be putting the names of those people who would like to join in the celebrations at the hall into a hat and a draw will take place. We hope that there will also be people welcoming the Princess Royal along the route on Watlington Road and along the High Street, which noble volunteers have offered to decorate with bunting. Please would you register your interest in joining in the celebrations at the Jubilee Hall on Monday 23rd September by completing the form below and posting it or dropping it off at 15, Weston Road, Lewknor or Beech Farm, Postcombe and marking the envelope "Jubilee Visit" by 7th September 2002. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Visit by The Princess Royal to the Jubilee Hall, Lewknor on Monday 23rd September 2002 I would like my name to be placed in the draw to attend the celebrations at the Jubilee Hall, Lewknor on 22nd September 2002 Please complete the form in block capitals and return by 7th September 2002. Name: . Address .. Telephone Search your trunks and attics! The Trustees are asking residents of the parish to search their trunks and attics (and parents, grannies and aunties and uncles too!) for shoes, bags, dresses and hats from the 1950's. We know these are out there as a recent request in the author's home village produced a wealth of costumes from the period and we know we can beat that!! We are looking for women's, men's and children's clothing of the period, in good condition. This could include daywear, nightwear, evening wear, wedding dresses and beachwear. If you would be happy for your finds to be used as part of the celebrations for the visit of The Princess Royal to the Jubilee Hall at Lewknor, please e-mail pauladormer@awara32.freeserve.co.uk. So, residents of Lewknor, Postcombe and South Weston, search your attics .we need your help! 50's Memorabilia The organisers of the visit by The Princess Royal are looking for memorabilia of the 50's, particularly photographs of people and places in the parish during this time. Have you any photos of the Coronation Party, photos of the school at the time and houses in the village then? Any other mementoes that could be used in a display would be gratefully received. Bunting required!! We need lots of bunting for the Royal Visit. Please contact Caroline if you will be happy to lend us your bunting. Please e-mail pauladormer@awara32.freeserve.co.uk.
St, Margaret's Harvest Supper on Friday 27th September, 7.30pm, in church. After supper Colin, Bishop of Dorchester will speak on Does the Village Church have a future? Supper Free, bring your own wine/drinks. R.S.V.P. : pauladormer@awara32.freeserve.co.uk
An Opportunity to Explore the Meaning of Life . Christianity, Boring, Untrue, Irrelevant? An introduction to the Christian Faith. Justin Walk, Professor of Physiscs, Oxford University Will give the introductory talk to our Alpha Course On Saturday 14th September The course is in the comfort of a home in the village. Each week a video on a particular aspect of Christianity -history, the Holy Spirit, healing etc., is followed by a discussion - usually a lively one! - and then supper. The course is free. For further details e-mail: pauladormer@awara32.freeserve.co.uk
Lewknor Annual Horticultural Show Sunday 15th September Knapp Farm, Lewknor 2p.m. Don't forget to bring your entries for the show by 11am on the day. Lots of entries please we need to raise lots of money to equip the hall so you can sit down in it!! Stalls, Side shows, Thame Concert Band, Teas, Auction of Produce etc. Come along and support your local community!
Krakatoa Pre-School Friday 12th July saw the climax of "the season" of the Jubilee Hall! An evening of Ferret Racing surpassed the racing excitement of Royal Ascot and the cuisine seen at Glyndebourne!! Eight races of four ferrets per race meant plenty of opportunities to study the form and place the bets. The evening was thoroughly enjoyed by all, raising a magnificent £800 for Krakatoa Pre-School. With their forthcoming move from the school to the Hall in September the monies will be well used for new equipment. Charlotte and I, on behalf of the children, thank all those who sponsored races, 'owned' ferrets, generously placed their bets and the Mums who contributed the most scrumptious puddings, which complemented the Fish & Chips from Smarts of Thame. A big thank you to you all. Morag
Self-Help Traffic Speed Monitoring Device You may have seen operating in the local area lately a mobile radar-trap that informs a driver of his speed. This is a SID (Speed Indicator Display), but another radar device, a 'Mini Gatso Speed Recorder', has recently become available. Previously operated by the police, it has been superseded by more advanced technology, but it still works. The Mini Gatso does not provide drivers with a display but it does tell the operator the speed of passing vehicles and counts the number of vehicles and the number exceeding a pre-set limit. In other words it provides some statistics on traffic patterns which would be of value in, for instance, supporting a case for the provision of traffic calming measures. The tripod mounted machine is powered by a 12 volt battery (supplied, along with a charger) and, because of its weight, it would be advisable to have two people to move it. It cannot be left unattended at the roadside, so the ideal solution would be to have a team of operators who could man the machine in shifts while on the site. Anyone wishing to take advantage of this offer by organising a team to borrow and operate the device for a day or two should contact Steve Wood of Speedwatch on 01865 815758 or steve.wood@oxfordshire.gov.uk. The initiative has the full backing of OCC and Thames Valley Police. Voluntary Conservation Work Nick Bailey has recently been appointed as the Volunteer Co-ordinator for the Chiltern Society's Southern Region and he is seeking information on current conservation projects (pond clearance, woodland and grassland managemment, wild flower planting, etc.) and the individuals and/or organisations engaged in such activities. If you have any interest in such work, or would be prepared to have work carried out on your land, contact Nick on 01491 671381 or ngpbailey@onetel.net.uk Ragwort Control It is the ragwort season again. Ragwort is classified as a 'noxious weed'; it is extremely poisonous and may be fatal both to animals grazing the plant directly and to those fed on hay containing cut ragwort. There is no cure for equine ragwort poisoning which is, therefore, fatal; sheep are also at some risk. Mature plants may be 30-100 cms tall with woody stems bearing clumps of yellow flowers, rather like yellow-petalled daisies and not, therefore, easily confused with dandelions. Single plants or small outbreaks may be controlled by pulling (and ideally burning) or by the application of herbicides. Landowners are responsible for controlling ragwort on their property but colonies often become established on the verges of the highway. While OCC has overall responsibility for the control of infestations, Mrs Jacqueline Graham has agreed to act as the local co-ordinator for ragwort reporting. She will need to know the precise location of the colony and, if appropriate/known, the owner of the land involved. Reports may be made to Mrs Graham on KB 281240.
OXFORDSHIRE HISTORIC CHURCHES TRUST Saturday 14 September 2002 10.00am to 6.00pm As in every recent year, this event is once again taking place in September! Pump up your tyres! Oil your bicycle! Clean your shoes! We need you to take part! For every pound we raise in sponsorship money, Lewknor Church gets 50p. So pedal your way round the churches in the area, or walk if you prefer or drive, for a great family event that helps the church! Sponsorship forms are available (as from 23July) from: Elizabeth Orr-Ewing Icknield House, 12 High Street, Lewknor Tel: 01844 353600 Please help us to make it a great day for Lewknor and its families!! As we have to have two people on duty in the church to welcome visitors and sign forms for our visitors, we would be grateful if you could spare one hour during the day to sit in the church. Anybody willing to help, please contact Elizabeth on the above number.
I have now been able to write to the Archdeacon to inform him that the P.C.C. does not wish to sell any part of the graveyard. The P.C.C. in February had unanimously expressed their opinion on this matter and voted against the sale of any area, however small it might be. It was, however, decided to allow those applying for land to mark out the area that they wanted, so that everyone in the village could appreciate what was involved. I would like to thank Charlotte Rose for circulating her questionnaire to all the village, and Henry Morris for organising the petition, which was handed to me personally. 136 villagers and former residents signed the petition, and I received a further 20 letters and telephone calls from other former residents and those whose relatives are buried in our Church graveyard. Your interest and support in this matter has been greatly appreciated by all of us on the P.C.C. Ian Orr-Ewing, Churchwarden and Chairman of the PCC
Following my article on the history of Lewknor, I have received the following comments from Justin Ritchie. I will include these in the final version to be put on the website. If anyone has any other interesting information please do let me have it. Derek Hazlewood "In the early Fifties the Forge had already closed down. The blacksmith's main work would have been shoeing horses, and they were no longer used on the farms. It was not until the building of the motorway that the garage closed. The site was bought by Farols, who sold and repaired farm equipment, but the site proved too small and awkward. When they left Lewknor Close was built. When I came to Lewknor someone remarked, "They are all gypsies there". Untrue, but it showed how remote the place was thought to be. Later on people said, "Lewknor Garage". This was because of the good re-spray facility there. The coming of the motorway was followed by a lot of house building which roughly doubled the population of the village. The school was proud of having its own hot dinners. These were cooked in a wooden shed on the east edge of the village. It was called the Reading Room! The water supply was carried in buckets from the school. The two pubs had no accomodation available, and no wine or spirit licences. Only villagers went there. At the Fox there was a small shop. In the Fifties nearly everyone worked on the farms or at the car factory at Cowley. There was a special early morning bus service from the Lambert Arms, going via Watlington and Chalgrove. A footpath runs along the side of the A40 from beyond Tetsworth, but stops abruptly at the foot of Aston Hill. This was for those who walked to the railway station. I have been told that during the Second World War someone lived in a gypsy caravan near Lewknor Halt and went by train to work in London. The old village hall was an army hut in the orchard behind Home Farm. In it was a full-sized billiard table. This left no room for anything else. Luckily a builder agreed to take it away so that he could use the slate inside."
I'M LEAVING I've had a brilliant time at Lewknor School but its time to move on. I will miss everyone, including the teachers. I have had a mixture of feelings, but most of them happy. I've enjoyed my time on all of the trips. At Kilvrough manor we had loads of fun. Same with Hill End. The year sixes went swimming then to MacDonalds for our leavers trip. It was fantastic! I will miss everyone, and I will never forget the time when Miss Williams had hiccups while telling us our instructions for the next activity. I can remember the time we went to the Royal Albert Hall. We got there at 1.30pm and got back at 11.30pm. It was an amazing night. In 2000 we went on a brilliant trip to the millennium dome. We watched the show where the acrobats hung on ropes from the ceiling, and they walked around on stilts. It was excellent. I'm sad I'm leaving Lewknor school, but I'm happy to start Icknield Community College. I will miss everyone and I'll never forget the fun times. Wish me luck and I'll see you soon! by Rebecca Golder Age 11 I'm very sad I'm leaving but I've had a brilliant time at Lewknor School. I will miss everyone in the school especially all of the teachers. I am sad and happy about leaving. Most of the memories are really happy. I will miss doing all of the fantastic tripos we have done. I really enjoyed Kilvrough Manor I will never forget going there. Recently the year 6's went there leaver's trip it was swimming it was great fun after we went swimming we went to Mc Donalds. I will never forget the time when we went to sing at the Royal Albert Hall in London. That was my best memory so far at the school. But most of all I have really enjoyed my time at this school for the last two years. I will never forget this school. But it is time for me to go to Secondary School. by Charlotte Hawkes Age 11 I'm very sad because I'm leaving Lewknor School but excited because I'm starting a new school called Rye St. Anthony. I will miss all the pupils and all the teachers here especially Miss Williams and Mrs Moore. I've been on some wonderful and interesting school trips like the Millenniumm dome, the Royal Albert hall and Kilvrough manor. They were all fantastic but my favourite one was the Miennium dome. That was the best. My feelings and my memories will live inside my heart forever. by Sophie Carroll Age 11 It has been a fantastic time at Lewknor School and I will miss it lots. I will never forget Mr Baker, Mrs Moore and Miss williams. They have always been there for me since I joined in year 2. I have enjoyed going on the trips to Hill End, Kilvrough manor Kingswood and Dolgellau. Hill End is a wide open space in the middle of Oxford, it has grassy places and woody places. I like it best when it rains and we are in the barn. The rain echoes and rattles on the roof. Dolgellau is in North Wales. We stayed at Caban Cader Idris. We went on a steam train to the end of the line, from where we walked back along the beach Kilvrough - the house looked like a Castle. It was painted white. The grounds had woods and lawns. While we were here we had activities like rock climbing, body boarding and loads of other things. Kingswood is another large house. From here you can see the sea. We took part in loads of activites like quad-biking, go-karting and canoeing. It has ben great here at Lewknor but it is now time to move on to another school. by Samuel Black Age 11
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